& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Odommo Chattagram

16-day Ctg festival unveiled

Arun Bikash Dey, Chittagong
The Daily Star yesterday revealed plans to hold a 16-day “Odommo Chattagram" festival to showcase
the history, culture, heritage and prospects for the future of Chittagong.
The March 8-23 event will celebrate the achievements of local
citizens and the true spirit of the port city toward revitalising its enormous potential as the country's commercial capital. The announcement was made at a city hotel in the presence of distinguished guests. The logo of the festival was also unveiled on the occasion.
The key themes of the event will cover Chittagong's history, culture and tradition; contemporary lifestyle, food and entertainment; business; and civic and environmental issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star, said the daily had initiated the event to project Chittagong in its true spirit before the nation.
Everything in the country happens around the capital Dhaka, which he thought was not the right way to lead a country to prosperity.
The country's development would not gain its expected pace if Chittagong was not developed, he said. Through this festival, he pointed out, the heritage of the port city would be publicised throughout the country so that people could know more about it and thus about the country.
The event will also give a direction about how the potentials of Chittagong could be used in the best possible way; how the obstacles to Chittagong's success would be removed; and how the doors of prosperity would be unveiled, mentioned the editor.
A former adviser of a caretaker government, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, said Bangladesh would be developed if every part of it was developed.
He insisted that though Chittagong was a neglected city, its citizens should go ahead with their talents and potentials instead of complaining about the negligence.
The Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University, Prof Anwarul Azim Arif, in his remarks said Chittagong was the focal point to increase the competitiveness of Bangladesh. He urged all to know more about the port city.
Chittagong has always been odommo (indomitable), said MA Malek, editor of The Daily Azadi.
Both Malek and Taslim Uddin Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Purbokone, thanked The Daily Star for taking the initiative.
Chittagong is unable to retain its talents in the city as they are Dhaka-bound, pointed out Abul Momen, resident editor of Daily ProthomAlo.
Although the city is older than Dhaka and Kolkata, it has been neglected for a long time, he observed.
Salahuddin Kashem Khan, managing director of AK Khan Group, said the port city had a history of 1,400 years. Quoting the renowned explorer Ibn Battuta, he said Chittagong is a sleeping princess.
The President of Chattagram Samity Rezaul Hoque Moshtaque, said the demand for developing Chittagong was not from a regional point of view, but for the overall development of the country.
ProfShyamal Kanti Biswas, Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, said Chittagong had a lot of talents and potentials. The expected development of the country could be achieved through utilising those, he added.
The first vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA), Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, demanded the opening of an office of the shipping ministry in Chittagong as part of decentralisation.
He hoped the festival would play a vital role in the branding of Chittagong.
M Nasir Uddin, managing director of Pacific Jeans, said China's economy had grown rapidly over the past few years, which was possible due to the growth of its coastal and port areas.
Eminent scientist Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam, Awami League lawmaker MA Latif, president (in-charge) of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam, former CCCI president Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, Vice-chancellor of East Delta University Prof Dr Sikander Khan, Prof Dr Mainul Islam of Chittagong University, principal of Sunshine Grammar School and College Safia Gazi Rahman, Chittagong Club president SM Abu Tayeb, managing director of Grey Advertising Gauchhul Alam Shaon and artiste Abdul Gafur Hali were present, among others.
Shahriar Shahid, manager, business development and marketing of The Daily Star, made a PowerPoint presentation of Odommo Chattagram on the occasion.